That all depends on how the prospects pan out. That's really the point.
- MJL

Yes and no. Not all prospects will be impact players at the NHL level, regardless of their draft position. Some will be hits, others misses. You need to supplement your team with FA and trades that can improve the nucleus of your team, not just acquire future assets. Hexy hasn't done much to do that at this point and his FA signings leave a lot to be desired.

A great article today over on the Athletic....sums it up perfectly on the subjects of Hak and Hex. While some view hextall's rebuild as "always two years away from contention", The Flyers have both cap room and assets to build a contender now. That doesn't mean you trade youth for over priced vets, but it does mean you can upgrade the complimentary vets you now have. They brought up the fact that it's hard to judge Hakstol when Hex really hasn't done a lot to get him a a more competitive roster to play with. It is a big off season for Hextall. Be interesting to see how he progress's from here.

- landros 2

No doubt and I'm fine with going after Tavares, as long as they find a way to upgrade the starting goalie spot as well.

As long as they understand and plan for the future cap implications that signing a Tavares will mean.

The 3C hole is the one they might have the most trouble with. I think they are going to need a trade to deal with that one, unless they suddenly view Laughton or even Vecchione as an answer, down the middle, for their bottom 6.
- johndewar

I agree. It will certainly be the most interesting story line.

I wish FAs started taking more higher AAV 1 and 2 year deals. I would love JVR on an expensive but short deal.

Honestly I see something along the lines of this being their best Top 9

40-14-17
12-28-93
54-19-11

More realistically...let's say they plan on going back to 28-14-11

28-14-11
54-19-93
mess

Wow..

Bob has imploded
- opeth_pa

Question i posed on twitter.....Giroux is taking heat for his last two playoff series (and he must be better) overlooking his previous playoffs. what would the narrative be for Bob in philly with his playoff performances?

No doubt and I'm fine with going after Tavares, as long as they find a way to upgrade the starting goalie spot as well.

As long as they understand and plan for the future cap implications that signing a Tavares will mean.
- BiggE

I think if you bring in JT you are looking at Vorecek going out. Your bang on....all the youngsters will eventually have to be paid. I personally don't think he's a fit here right now, but would be excited if it ever happened...

Building through the draft for the most part landed them the team that won 2 Cups and the Keenan teams that would have won a Cup in many eras. I'm willing to be patient, I just want to see them move an asset or two to fill gaping holes such as starting goalie and 3C.
- BiggE

Hard to compare the early 70s NHL to now, but I hear what you're saying. Like I said, I've wanted them to build a team instead of trying to buy one for years. I was pretty pleased with the season, but the way they showed up in the playoffs was tough to take. After the great season by Giroux and Vorachek it was really disappointing to see them turn totally ineffective in the playoffs. Wish they'd address the goaltending and PK. I think more secondary scoring is coming and hopefully another solid defensive dman.

I think if you bring in JT you are looking at Vorecek going out. Your bang on....all the youngsters will eventually have to be paid. I personally don't think he's a fit here right now, but would be excited if it ever happened...
- landros 2

It would be pretty out of character for Hexy to make this move.

I agree. It will certainly be the most interesting story line.

I wish FAs started taking more higher AAV 1 and 2 year deals. I would love JVR on an expensive but short deal.

Honestly I see something along the lines of this being their best Top 9

40-14-17
12-28-93
54-19-11

More realistically...let's say they plan on going back to 28-14-11

28-14-11
54-19-93
mess
- YuenglingJagr

Giroux going back to center would definitely solve some problems, for sure.

Question i posed on twitter.....Giroux is taking heat for his last two playoff series (and he must be better) overlooking his previous playoffs. what would the narrative be for Bob in philly with his playoff performances?
- nastyflyergirl

it would be ugly. Not a small price tag. Look at Carey Price...one injury filled year followed by playing in front of a weak team the year after....now a good number of the fan base want's him moved....two years after being considered the best goalie on the planet...go figure.

I think if you bring in JT you are looking at Vorecek going out. Your bang on....all the youngsters will eventually have to be paid. I personally don't think he's a fit here right now, but would be excited if it ever happened...
- landros 2

I disagree.

I think he fits perfectly. His age would fit right with the window for now and in a couple years.

Yes Voracek might be a casualty eventually but you can make that work then. You'll also be free of MacDonalds deal in 2 years and Gudas in 2 if not traded sooner. I think you build through the middle and then add wingers to those guys. Going down the middle with Tavares, Patrick and Couturier lets you match anyone. Now you add wingers to those and I think those centers can help wingers produce.

A great article today over on the Athletic....sums it up perfectly on the subjects of Hak and Hex. While some view hextall's rebuild as "always two years away from contention", The Flyers have both cap room and assets to build a contender now. That doesn't mean you trade youth for over priced vets, but it does mean you can upgrade the complimentary vets you now have. They brought up the fact that it's hard to judge Hakstol when Hex really hasn't done a lot to get him a a more competitive roster to play with. It is a big off season for Hextall. Be interesting to see how he progress's from here.

- landros 2

There's a lot of logical sense to what you stated. The cap room and assets Hexy has at his disposal should be used to upgrade positions of weakness that there are not currently in the pipeline; goaltending, 3C, PK winger. Carter Hart may be the solution to goaltending, but with Hexy's approach, that won't happen for at least 2 years. Hard to predict what happens with G and Jake during that time. If they fall off a cliff production wise, how do you replace it? I'm not too worried about extensions for Provorov and TK quite yet, as the cap will most likely continue to increase.

As far as Hak is concerned, he's done some good things with developing players like Provorov, TK, Sanheim, and Hagg, but he's also made some very questionable coaching decisions with his lineups and his playoff record is complete $hit. Hexy needs to do more to give him better players in certain positions, but his insistence on playing underperforming vets when younger players could do the same job and gain the experience is a bit baffling.

It would be pretty out of character for Hexy to make this move.
- Dkos

agree 100%. it just doesn't feel like a fit....at all.

I think if you bring in JT you are looking at Vorecek going out. Your bang on....all the youngsters will eventually have to be paid. I personally don't think he's a fit here right now, but would be excited if it ever happened...
- landros 2

Hey I'd be thrilled. Could be an interesting summer. New GM coming in for the Wild, could be a deal there. I know many Wild fans feel the team is too soft, so maybe a deal can be built around Simmonds and Elliott heading there and Dubnyk and a pick heading here? Just thinking out loud, but perhaps something could be worked out.

With the talent at the top the draft, I’d be okay if Hextall packages both picks to move up in the top 5 to get someone like Zadina.

Hard to compare the early 70s NHL to now, but I hear what you're saying. Like I said, I've wanted them to build a team instead of trying to buy one for years. I was pretty pleased with the season, but the way they showed up in the playoffs was tough to take. After the great season by Giroux and Vorachek it was really disappointing to see them turn totally ineffective in the playoffs. Wish they'd address the goaltending and PK. I think more secondary scoring is coming and hopefully another solid defensive dman.
- Dkos

Goaltending and finding a 3rd quality center are the biggest needs to be addressed this offseason, IMO

I disagree.

I think he fits perfectly. His age would fit right with the window for now and in a couple years.

Yes Voracek might be a casualty eventually but you can make that work then. You'll also be free of MacDonalds deal in 2 years and Gudas in 2 if not traded sooner. I think you build through the middle and then add wingers to those guys. Going down the middle with Tavares, Patrick and Couturier lets you match anyone. Now you add wingers to those and I think those centers can help wingers produce.
- J35Bacher

I was just messing around on the Capfriendly site, bumped the cap to $81 million, paid Tavares $9.75 million per season, traded a first round pick for Holtby, brought up Vecchione, NAK and Myers from the AHL, bought out Lehtera and still had almost $9 million left in cap space. it can be done!

Hey I'd be thrilled. Could be an interesting summer. New GM coming in for the Wild, could be a deal there. I know many Wild fans feel the team is too soft, so maybe a deal can be built around Simmonds and Elliott heading there and Dubnyk and a pick heading here? Just thinking out loud, but perhaps something could be worked out.
- BiggE

Interesting thought.

Goaltending and finding a 3rd quality center are the biggest needs to be addressed this offseason, IMO
- BiggE

As usual, you are 100% correct. Not sure if slotting Laughton into the 3C spot and bringing up Vecchione for the 4th line center role would fix the issue or not, but it's worth a shot. The goaltending issue is going to have to be solved from an external source at this point

I was just messing around on the Capfriendly site, bumped the cap to $81 million, paid Tavares $9.75 million per season, traded a first round pick for Holtby, brought up Vecchione, NAK and Myers from the AHL, bought out Lehtera and still had almost $9 million left in cap space. it can be done!
- aantny88

I just see a chance to grab a superstar to help now and in the future without losing any picks or prospects.

Also i don't see it changing any of your plans to draft and develop.

Question i posed on twitter.....Giroux is taking heat for his last two playoff series (and he must be better) overlooking his previous playoffs. what would the narrative be for Bob in philly with his playoff performances?
- nastyflyergirl

Are you kidding me. That is the crux of my PLAYOFF BOB shtick The people that constantly use him as a prop to show the Flyers ineptness would be raving maniacal d-bags if he was here and had these performances

There's a lot of logical sense to what you stated. The cap room and assets Hexy has at his disposal should be used to upgrade positions of weakness that there are not currently in the pipeline; goaltending, 3C, PK winger. Carter Hart may be the solution to goaltending, but with Hexy's approach, that won't happen for at least 2 years. Hard to predict what happens with G and Jake during that time. If they fall off a cliff production wise, how do you replace it? I'm not too worried about extensions for Provorov and TK quite yet, as the cap will most likely continue to increase.

As far as Hak is concerned, he's done some good things with developing players like Provorov, TK, Sanheim, and Hagg, but he's also made some very questionable coaching decisions with his lineups and his playoff record is complete $hit. Hexy needs to do more to give him better players in certain positions, but his insistence on playing underperforming vets when younger players could do the same job and gain the experience is a bit baffling.
- aantny88

I liked the article ...probably because I agreed with pretty much what he said. I'm not sold on the Hextall-Hakstol tandem....yet. I have a hard time blaming the coach when the roster decisions are simply between bad and worse. I think part of the GM's job is to surround the core with better quality then what Hextall has done to this point. Was it the salary Cap? lack of ammunition to make trade? those excuses are not there anymore. I'm not saying Hextall shouldn't deviate from continuing to draft and develop, but all these prospects can't possibly play anyways....some can be moved up to upgrade the secondary scoring, D and goaltending. I think before a final decision is made on Hakstol...Hex has to give him something better to work with.

Building through the draft for the most part landed them the team that won 2 Cups and the Keenan teams that would have won a Cup in many eras. I'm willing to be patient, I just want to see them move an asset or two to fill gaping holes such as starting goalie and 3C.
- BiggE

agreed but I also wouldn't mind a minor D move, like free agent a Ian Cole, wouldnt even mind Vanek on a 1 year deal. I also think the Blue Jackets are going to make some moves, not blow it up but blow it up, I think the Flyers should inquire.

agreed but I also wouldn't mind a minor D move, like free agent a Ian Cole, wouldnt even mind Vanek on a 1 year deal. I also think the Blue Jackets are going to make some moves, not blow it up but blow it up, I think the Flyers should inquire.
- wcorvette

If they bring in a veteran defender then i would assume someone would be moved out like Gudas. You still have MacDonald and you would want most of your youth playing.

Question i posed on twitter.....Giroux is taking heat for his last two playoff series (and he must be better) overlooking his previous playoffs. what would the narrative be for Bob in philly with his playoff performances?
- nastyflyergirl

I just pulled up the playoff stats. Bobrovsky was pretty bad overall in the series vs. the Caps. But who are the few goalies that were worse. Of course Elliott and Neuvirth.
I can't wait to see what the tandem is next year, because Hextall trying to sell anyone on these pair of stiffs is a joke.

Hey I'd be thrilled. Could be an interesting summer. New GM coming in for the Wild, could be a deal there. I know many Wild fans feel the team is too soft, so maybe a deal can be built around Simmonds and Elliott heading there and Dubnyk and a pick heading here? Just thinking out loud, but perhaps something could be worked out.
- BiggE

I like the idea, but Elliot's value is at it's lowest point, IMHO. So to get Dubnyk, who has a very nice cap hit and an anchor on that Wild team, I'd have to think they'd want more than Simmonds and Elliot. Especially after having a down year in Simmonds..